By Agha Iqrar Haroon
Islamabad: Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) may attack, kill or kidnap family members of politicians, civil and military bureaucrats as a strategic twist under the leadership of its new chief Mullah Fazlullah. TTP has announced it will not target civilians, bazaars or public places but only security forces, government installations, political leaders and police. TTP is now have top priority to re-capture Swat, increase presence in Islamabad, Lahore and Gilgit. “Killing of Shia community may not be the top priority of TTP at the moment since it wishes to use all its potentials to strike Pakistan Army and politicians including families of chief ministers, federal ministers including PTI leadership”, claims intelligence circles.
This strategic announcement of Asmatullah Shaheen, head of the Shura and the TTP interim chief will help to gain support of those religious elements who are against senseless killing of innocent people in bomb blasts in markets and public places. It will also help TTP to become more target oriented to kill its enemies like Pakistan Army, Police, politicians and law enforcement agencies. Taliban in Afghanistan are already trying to target only forces and avoiding senseless killing of people in public places and civilians are killed as a part of collateral damage if attack take place in a place where some civilians are present otherwise attack in markets and public places and on civilians have been snubbed by Taliban Leader Mullah Omar. However, public places and markets in Police Lines and Cantonments will on top of the target list.
TTP during the rule of Baitullah and Hakmatullah killed around forty five thousand people including only eight thousands personals of security forces therefore damage was more on civilians then specific targets—-law enforcement agencies. Top priorities of TTP can be attack on police Line, armed forces hospitals, cantonment areas, Swat valley, Gilgit and KKH where paramilitary forces are building up their position. Sources in intelligence agencies claim that families of targeted groups like civil and military bureaucrats and politicians are also on the list of TTP.
